The show is planned to premiere in the UK on Saturday, 19 September 2026, with the initial two episodes making their debut. Thereafter, two new episodes will be released each Saturday, culminating in the final two installments on 10 October 2026. HBO holds the broadcast rights for North America.
JAŸ-Z IN 8 marks Rick Rubin’s directorial debut in documentary filmmaking, with executive producers including Shawn Carter, Rick Rubin, and Oscar-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya. The production is produced by Rubin’s Tetragrammaton label, with Bradford Young (Arrival) serving as director of photography and editors Walter Fasano and Christian Sandino-Taylor on board.
The series adopts a song-by-song framework curated by Rubin, delivering an intimate look at Jay-Z’s writing process and lyricism. Across eight episodes, Carter revisits his back catalog, recounting his upbringing in Brooklyn, pivotal life experiences, and the shifting cultural landscape that helped shape his career. Notable tracks explored throughout the series include “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” “Brooklyn’s Finest,” “4:44,” “99 Problems,” “The Story Of O.J.,” and “Public Service Announcement.”
“In Rick Rubin’s directorial documentary debut, the project unfolds through hours of candid dialogue between two creative powerhouses,” the release notes describe. “As Jay-Z guides viewers through the words and music that informed the work, he reveals the deep, inseparable link between art and life.”
The project represents Rubin’s latest high-profile foray into music documentaries, following his work on McCartney 3,2,1. The full series will be available exclusively to MUBI subscribers in the UK starting this September.
